An Act To Amend The Maine Uniform Probate Code

LD 1440 amends Maine's Uniform Probate Code to clarify key estate and guardianship procedures. It expands the definition of "marriage" to include valid out-of-state domestic partnerships for inheritance purposes, allows probate proceedings to begin more than three years after death if no prior action occurred (with restrictions on accessing estate assets), and streamlines parental consent for adoptions when a parent resides in another state. The bill also specifies that guardianship ends automatically upon the adult ward's death and requires courts to accept valid parental surrender documents from other states with proper certification. These changes directly affect individuals handling estates, surviving spouses, adoptive families, and guardianship cases across state lines.